I'm planning a trip to Cuba in December, does anyone have informations about climbing situations (is that still ban but possible..!?), climbing area (a part from Vinales is there any other place?) and routes' difficulty?!

I'm planning a trip to Cuba in December, does anyone have informations about climbing situations (is that still ban but possible..!?), climbing area (a part from Vinales is there any other place?) and routes' difficulty?!

I'm planning a trip to Cuba in December, does anyone have informations about climbing situations (is that still ban but possible..!?), climbing area (a part from Vinales is there any other place?) and routes' difficulty?!

thank u!

I've never been, but I believe it is technically illegal to climb there now. From my understanding, people still do climb there and just get a warning if they're caught, but just keep it in mind.

I was in Cuba last winter. The climbing ban was in effect, but we climbed every day with no problems. You pass through Raul's farm to go to the climbing, and on two separate days he warned us to go to a different crag because of park rangers. One area is near a developed tourist bar, and is closed. The best crag Costanera, lies outside of the park and is guaranteed to be open, although you need a taxi to reach it. This is where the mega classic mucho pumpito is, DO NOT MISS THIS ROUTE! The locals were developing a new area named techo del mundo as I left, and it sounds awesome.

I stayed with my girlfriend in a casa particular "Tatica y El Chino". The accommodations were comfortable, but basic. The food was amazing and the family was the friendliest we meet (this is saying a lot because Cubans are some of the warmest, kindest people). For more luxury accommodations, but still a casa particular, casa Arcoiris is run by a Canadian expat and his Cuban wife and is very nice. A bonus is they have a car and can handle transport to some of the outlying crags.

Buy your guidebook before hand. They are not available there. Climbing equipment is not available either and there are quite a few awesome locals climbing on substandard gear, with blown out shoes that don't fit.

BRING GEAR TO DONATE! -shoes, maybe even a resole kit -bolts! They are putting up the routes, but often have trouble finding hardware -bring a rope with at least half it life left, and leave it when you go -they have plent of chalk bags

Have fun, don't let the hustlers of Havana get you down, the countryside is amazing.

If anyone out there is planning a trip to Cuba this next winter, I have lots of climbing equipment that has been donated for the Cuban Climbers. I just need a way to get it to them. Viñales is the only area that has some problems with access, but there are many more climbing areas that the locals are putting up.

In February of 2014 is the Cuban International Climbing Festival. You want to really climbing in Cuba and meet the people. Plan on coming.

They are developing a new climbing area on the east end of the island just for the festival. Amazing. Last year there was about 80 people one person bicycled 40 miles to come. Here is a web site with some trip reports to Cuba. http://www.srcfc.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=45&sid=d11d924eac52f352707c9e573f4aeba1 Here is there local web site: http://escaladaencuba

This is what they are developing for 2014.

This is the festival 2013 near Sancti Spíritus , Cuba

Here is a list of the local climbers I climbs with. Contact them and they will get you on some great rock. .com/